"Have you made your decision, Tao Gong?"
One afternoon long ago, the artisan leaning on his cane sighed softly. "Once you take this one step out, there will be no room for regret."
"Regret?"
The aged celestial sighed, seeming to laugh at himself. "It has been a long time since I last felt anything like that."
The artisan fell silent.
Tao Cheng stared blankly at the sunlight outside the window. After a long while, he asked, "Tell me, if Quancheng can be saved, can it truly make up for the mistakes we made?"
"Right and wrong are not important to an artisan."
"But they are important to me."
Tao Cheng turned back and looked towards him. "We cannot keep making the same mistakes."
"I will do everything I can."
The artisan leaning on his cane nodded and stepped aside. "You must understand: whether you succeed or fail, from this day onward, you will likely become a vessel for Celestial Origin, enduring torment and living in hell."
"Hell?"
Tao Cheng turned back in realization, gazing at the flames rising within the furnace.
They burned without end, the fire dancing.
Illuminating his eyes.
When he came back to himself, he had already forced his emaciated body upright. Unable to contain himself any longer, he smiled in delight.
"Then that truly could not be better!"
And so, head held high and strides long, he walked into the raging flames and hell.
Never to be seen again.
The flames from his memories faded. In the wind rushing towards him, the world seemed to be spinning.
Everything was rising.
Rushing towards him.
The breeze was so pleasant.
He had never imagined that the scenery of falling could be so enjoyable.
Through his daze, he seemed to see neon lights lit up beneath the night